Sometime during the night, I felt Cole stir and I hugged him and he turned, smiled and said, Mike I really need you, please don't leave me behind. I got up on one elbow and said Cole, I promise that won't happen. We both have a path together and yet apart. However, there is a special bond between us and next year, I'll have you to VT as much as you want to come. I'll be home often and will watch you win the state golf championship. He smiled, rolled over and we fell asleep in each other's arms for a second time.
I woke Cole and he went to his room and dressed for a run and we were joined by Ray and JJ and it felt really good to get some exercise. Back at the house, I put coffee on and showered, shaved and dressed in business casual. I filled my travel cup and drove to the office. Ruth greeted me with a smile and said, welcome back and I see you have a very busy day. I said. Ruth, I'm being punished for a fun weekend. She laughed and said well you have 15 minutes and Tim will be here and you are set with him for 3 hours. Once I saw my schedule, I just shook my head and was trying to move thing around to squeeze in a workout. I was wishing I had not agreed to the cookout. I was hoping to gain some time with this first meeting. I still had 5 minutes and started to the cafeteria and got 10 feet and Tim and Bill were there. I simply turned around and went back inside my office and sat behind my desk. The attorneys followed and Ruth appeared asking if anyone wanted coffee and I smiled and said, please just once. Tim laughed and asked for coffee as well and Bill asked for water.
Once we were alone I asked Tim, so just the two of you? Tim replied, I downsized on Friday and he is replaced by a Legal Secretary. I need more help there, especially now and I am sure you will like the results of that change. Bill immediately handed me a folder and inside was a 10 page document. It was the offer to purchase the business and the land. I started to read and Ruth appeared with the drinks and I thanked her. Once the door was closed Tim said Mike, don't read, let's just look at it one section at a time. That process took an hour and with very few changes, I agreed that it totally represented my offer and intent. Next I was handed a lease for the house and was surprised. It simply gave the former owners occupancy of the property in perpetuity. That made sense to me. The next document were the documents for the formation of C & J Winery, LLC. It included the terms and conditions for the purchase of the stock. I would hold 20% and Charlie and his heirs would hold 10%. The final documents dealt with the relationship between Enterprises and the Winery. I was blown away by all this and Tim said he would clean up the offer and overnight it to David. I was handed a final document that would be the last page of the offer with my signature. I simply signed and dated the document.
Once they packed up and left copies of everything for me and I was alone, I looked at the time and just shook my head as it took 2:45 minutes. So much for picking up time. I was please with what was done and how prepared they were. I went out and thanked Ruth for the coffee and Riley appeared. I asked if she wanted to do this over lunch and he's said sure that would work. At the restaurant around the corner we were quickly seated and drinks and food were ordered. The discussion centered around the move and installation of furniture and computer equipment. It was a casual lunch/meeting with a lot of information and nothing that required me to do anything.
Back at the office Ruth directed me to the conference room and there sat Kyle and Dillon with drawings and charts. Kyle started by saying Mike, this won't take as long as it looks. I simply sat down and Dillon said Mike, this is a detailed follow up on what we are sure Riley just told you. We are simply making you aware of the actual process and everything is in order and moving smooth. The server is about 90% complete. We are in the process of getting data ports to the locations and furniture installation starts late next week. The entire meeting took 45 minutes and I was thrilled. As I was way ahead of schedule.
I was cleaning up a few minor things in my office when there was a knock on the door and I looked up and saw dad. I said dad, what's up? He laughed and said well a drawing you were going to leave on my desk. I said shit dad, I was so busy I forgot. I opened a desk drawer, took out a folder and handed it to dad, saying sorry it is a very rough flor plan. Dad looked at the drawing for a long time and when he looked up he had tears in his eyes. Dad what's the problem? Mike, you remembered. Dad, I have no idea what you are talking about. He whipped his eyes with his hand and said, well this is the exact floor plan of the original cabin. I burst out laughing and said dad, I have no memory of the cabin, well that I am aware of. Dad smiled and said well the last time I had you there, you were 3. Dad, just so you know, I'm selling the beach property in the Outer Banks. There is some drama as I fired the Real Estate company as they had it quietly on the market. I figure it is worth around 800k and that will pay for the winery and more. Dad shook his head and said, I thought that was special for you? Dad, I'm simply tired of paying a mental price for one week that was good with mom and Bill. I called a moving company and her and Bill were moved out of my head. Besides, the new place is becoming very very special. I'll have a reason to go there when we finalize the winery deal. Dad and I talked for a bit and I told him about my evening and that I wouldn't be home for dinner. He laughed and said, well I'm glad you are taking your time with this one, that's usually a good sign. I laughed and said dad, no offense but I'm not taking woman advice from you. We both laughed and he went about his day.
I quickly closed down my office, said good night to Ruth and checked the trunk for workout clothes and was glad the the mobile locker room was in tact but in need of cleaning. It was a quick ride to school and I was thrilled to see a lot of guys, in various stages of working out. While that was fun it took longer but a good workout. A quick shower and a quick chat with coach and I realized I would be early if I went now so I went to the stadium and was sitting in the top row of the bleachers. I was deep in thought when Jim appeared and sat down. I said hey dude, what's up? He said Mike, I'm just wondering if the next batch of memories will be as good as the last. I said Jim, we are better this year but it is very different and it's more like work and less fun. He laughed and said, that's for fucking sure and it sucks and not in a good way. I looked over and asked Jim, are you ok? Jim simply laughed, shook his head and went to workout. I thought damn, I hope Sam is up to the task or that Jim gets help, he is in a fucked up place. I needed to try and see if I could help.
It was a quick drive to Mary Ann's house and I parked in the street, put the roof up and locked the car. I rang the bell and the door was quickly answered by this awesome looking stud. He was just a bit shorter than me with curly dark brown hair which looked a lot like my haircut. He was fucking ripped. He said, hi Mike I'm JT please come in. Almost immediately Mary Ann appeared and jumped into my arms and gave me a big kiss. She said thanks for coming, it means so much. I realized that JT had simply disappeared, for which I was grateful. Peanuts took my hand and we went outside. I simply stopped dead in my tracks as there were 2 guys sitting there drinking a beer and they were fucking clones of each other. The only difference was that one hadn't shaved. He immediately stood up shook my hand saying, hi Mike I am TJ. I just stared and they both laughed. TJ said, excuse me we were just back from a run and JT beat me to the shower, I'll be right back. I was thinking please don't shave. JT asked if I wanted a beer and I declined saying the ride home involved 4 municipalities. Mary Ann went inside and returned with an iced tea. Once she delivered the tea she went inside to help her mom.
I sat down and JT said Mike, your reaction to us is so typical and when TJ returns very few people can tell us apart. I said, I hear you two just graduated? He smiled and said well yes, but in December. We finished early and we are in law school and we are on break. Mike, before you ask undergraduate degree George Washington and now Harvard Law. Mike, TJ and I watched your TV interview and were amazed that you got away with it. I laughed and said, how so? Well you were on National TV for an hour and told the entire nation NOTHING. In comments at the end of the program she politely indicated that by saying you were a tough interview. I laughed and said, well it's what I do and they should have asked better questions. JT laughed and asked, did you even watch? I shrugged and said nope, I was there. Mary Ann appeared and sat on my lap and asked, how I was holding up and i turned to ask JT how I was doing and he was gone. So Mary Ann why do the guys vanish like that and how do they do it so silently. She laughed and kissed me and said so we can do this. If figured what the fuck and returned the kiss. I even felt her up and that stopped things. Once she was off my lap and sitting in a separate chair the twins appeared as if by magic. We were chatting and I had figured out a small difference in their hair so I could easily identify them. As we were chatting Amy, their mom, came out with a pile of corn and asked if we would take the husks off. I asked how she was cooking the corn and she said well boil in water. I asked if she was willing to try something different? She laughed and said, well as long as it is less work for me sure. I asked that the grill be turned on and Mary Ann went in for butter. The husks were pulled away and butter smeared on and the husks were pulled back up and we threw them on the grill. I would have loved a beer but stayed with iced tea.
Amy appeared with a plate of burgers and looked at the twins and said get those on the grill as your dad just got home. JT got up and I asked JT, please turn the corn and he shook his head. TJ said ok Mike, how do you do that, we are even dress identically? Yup and there is a tiny difference and it is cosmetic. Everyone laughed and I got another kiss from Peanuts. I whispered saying babe that's enough please, they are trying really hard and you keep taking advantage of that. Besides I can't get up as you have me rock hard. She laughed and felt me and said, damn you are and laughed.
Her dad, Wayne, appeared with a beer, dressed in jeans and a polo shirt. We shook hands and he sat down and started immediately on the interview. He had the same take that the twins had and that made sense. He asked Mike, will you ever say how much you are worth? I smiled and said absolutely, for the prenuptial. TJ chocked on his beer and JT said damn. I laughed and said, well I'm nowhere near that. There was silence for a while and finally JT said, well the burgers are ready but I have no idea about the corn. I said, well it's good if the burgers are ready. Dinner turned into a friendly event with no drama and we simply got acquainted. Everyone thought the corn was good and Amy said well it's certainly easy enough, well for me.
Once dinner was over the twins disappeared and it was Amy, Wayne, Mary Ann and me. Wayne asked was that a flip comment about a prenuptial or were you serious? Wayne, why are we talking about that, I am years and years away from a decision like that, but the answer is a very firm yes. Even at the high school level people have been after my money, I am a lot more that the sum of my bank account. Wayne said, I did not want to imply that, I'm actually just curious. He asked about football saying you guys should be better this year as JJ and Ray are important adds. I said yes they are and we are better at every position except QB. Well Mike, isn't Jim back? I laughed and said well some version of Jim is back and like all of us we have changed and to be honest it isn't as much fun this year. Too much is expected and we haven't even started camp and there is a lot of pressure. We all have to figure that out and find a way to deal with it. Wayne asked Mike, does that pressure come from us, your fans? I said well some but most of it comes from the coaches and ourselves. We don't want to let anyone down and that includes ourselves. We are a close group and that will help. Then Amy said, ok why don't we let the kids some time alone. Then Amy asked Mike, how were you able to tell the guys apart? I laughed and said well TJ has slightly longer sideburns than JT. She simply burst out laughing and said, I'll never say a word about that as I'm sure that was driving them crazy.
Once we were alone, I asked about the woods behind the property and she said well there is a short patch of trees and then a large school ball field and an elementary school. We decided to go for a walk as I wants to explore. Once we were out of view of the house I stopped and kissed her, while surprised by the sudden turn of events, she was a willing participant and it was a heavy make out session. We were all over each other and I put my hands on her ass and pulled her close. She backed away and said Mike, we better stop as I'm not doing it in the woods. I pulled her up and she wrapped her legs around me and we kissed and I asked are your sure? She laughed and said, so what you doing for lunch tomorrow? I smiled and said well I'm free.she said great meet me at Station Square, we can eat at the Sheraton. Then she grabbed my package and said bring that along. I laughed and said babe, no fucking way in hell we are going to my place as Cole is away and the rents are at work. She took my hand and we walked back to her house. Once there we sat talking and I said Peanuts, this is an important step are you sure? I was told Mike, I have been ready since 6th grade. I laughed and said damn, I wish I would have known. She laughed and said well since then I have some experience and am on the pill. I said babe, I don't care about the experience and will never ask and I'm not a novice either and will never discuss that with you. Understand, I am a one trick pony and if we do this tomorrow you will need to be as well. Oh, understand there will always be a condom. she said well they are actually fun as there are different way to put them on take them off. I was thinking damn this might be fun and different. She doesn't seem to be that uptight chick that her reputation indicates. Finally it was time to go home and I thanked Amy for dinner and was walked to the car and it was a quick kiss and she said, I'll be at your place at noon. I laughed and said high noon is good and we have all afternoon.
The drive home was uneventful and I wanted to have another long chat with dad about the Cabin. Besides that I wanted to call Cole as he needed some attention, especially from me. Once I was home, I looked around my room and decided I better clean. As I'm not a slob it didn't take long and once the sheets were changed, things were good. I called Cole and he answered right away and was all excited. I laughed and said well why so excited because of a practice round? He said MJ, I won $200 in a bet with my playing partners. I smiled and said DETAILS, please. He said well everyone bets in there practice rounds so I borrow some money from Liam, in case I lost. I split the winnings with him. Well it started when I had a buried lie in a trap and was bet $50 I couldn't get up and down. I laughed and said I could have lost that bet as well but it wouldn't been $50. Cole laughed and said you can bet your ass on that. It was innocent like that and I did lose one as they made a 10' putt. I asked, and how is Liam? He said well very relaxed as you are paying for school. Cole, that's not me and he fucking earned that. By the way you and your mom own grapes. He said awesome as I will build a putting green. Cole, not at the winery and I'll fill you in on the other shit when you get back. Don't get carried away with the bets. MJ, Liam has that under control. I said, good night and hung up.
Down stairs I found dad and Megan sitting in the game room. Dad with a scotch and Megan drinking an iced tea. I grabbed an iced tea and joined them. They appeared to be discussing baby names and I asked if they wanted to be left alone to figure that out. Megan said, well we are about done, would you like to hear the current choices? I laughed and asked, why two names as it's a boy for sure. Megan said Mike, Anne Marie would be a bad name for a boy. Then she said James William and I just stared at the two of them. Megan quietly said MJ, we expected that reaction and it is the middle name of both our parents. If it too much for you I promise we will consider something else. I recovered and said, that's actually good, hopefully it will erase some memories and replace them with better ones.
Then dad asked Mike, why is the lake so special to you? I shrugged and said I have no idea and all I know is that it is and I am very relaxed there. Mike, the big house stays as it pays a lot of bills and you should feel free to build the cabin you showed me. Dad, I was hoping you would say that and I'll see what Cole wants to do, well anything but a golf hole. Megan laughed and said thanks as I actually like the place as well. Also, I am selling the place at the shore as it is the last step in the process. While it makes money it isn't special to me, so much. Besides, the final proposal was overnighted to David this afternoon and I am hoping that the profits will help pay for the new business. I have only heard from Megan and with her and Cole's 15% and Charlie's 10% and my 20% that leaves 55% for the investors and I really hope most of that sells. Any outstanding shares will be housed by Technologies and all the financial items will go through that umbrella. Megan looked at me and said, I assume you are aware you could easily be out voted on things with this structure? I laughed and said, well this was not my idea and I said from the beginning we were in this together. Besides this will be an interesting meeting Friday evening and remember I control the Technology holdings.
I looked at dad and asked, why did you let Adam have that "big house" built instead of another cabin? Mike, that's how things were between Adam and I. He took care of the details. Dad, when Adam took care of the details was he always totally concerned with your interests. Dad got tense and said Mike, you know the damn answer to that, why ask? Dad because I need an answer to the big question, WHY DID YOU DO THE DAMN TRUST? At that Megan stood up and I asked her to please stay. She said MJ, I'll be right back as my favorite activity is going to the toilet. I said Megan, we will wait for you as I'm sure dad needs to craft an answer. Once Megan was back dad took a deep breath and said, well there were a lot of reasons, I had too much money sitting around, I needed someone to deal with the details I leave in my wake and finally I wanted to see who you really were. I felt you could continue to be a tough nosed jock with brains or a punk jock. Mike, I bet a lot on my hope you would turn out just like you have. Actually Michael, you have exceeded every expectation I had. Once you uncovered all the shit about Adam, I was hurting and you simply took over. Although, Brian your first attorney was not your best hire and dad laughed. Dad thanks and I actually needed to hear that.
I got up to leave and Megan said not so fast. How was the meeting with the in-laws? I laughed and said interesting as her brothers ate identical twins and I mean identical. Luckily I picked out a small, very small difference in sideburn lengths. There were some tense moments when I told her dad that any information about money would be revealed in the prenatal. Megan laughed out loud and I said well Mary Ann doesn't seem all that interested and she will be a pharmacist . The Twins are recent graduates of GW and currently Harvard Law. They are joined at the hip and very smart in a good way. Dad asked, so what next, you and Carrie all over again? I said dad simply a nice girl to date my senior year. Dad, before you start, we haven't gone there yet and there will be precautions as your not ready for a grand child. Well especially one the same age as you youngest child. Megan almost fell off the sofa laughing. I said good night and went to my room.
Once in my room I called JJ and we talked about my evening and then things turned to football. He told me that he was working out with Jim and he simply doesn't have that strong of an arm as he constantly under threw me on anything long and the sideline shit. I asked was anyone else there. He said Jason and few of his buds. Oh I saw coach watching for a while from the stands. JJ, it will be what it becomes. Then he asked, so what's with the track coach he said that you were running track and we could be half of a state relay team. I laughed and said, I'm not running track and JJ laughed. MJ I bet we both run track. Besides a group of metals will be fun. I laughed and said well all those metals and lettermen jackets won't mean shit at VT and I'm not taking any of those with me. He asked, understood. Finally I said I'll see you in the morning and hung up.
I stripped to my underwear and laid in bed thinking about a complicated and interesting day. Dad, Megan, Mary Ann and Jim all fighting for attention. I eventually fell into a restless sleep.
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